Innoson Withdraws Ex Parte Application Against GTBank, EFCC

By Dipo Olowookere

The ex parte application filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos against Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) by Innoson Nigeria Limited and its Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Mr Innocent Chukwuma, has been withdrawn.

The ex parte application, filed on Thursday, was withdrawn on Friday by the applicant.

Justice Hadiza Shagari, after the suit was filed on Thursday, had adjourned till Friday to hear it, but when the matter was called on Friday, counsel for GTBank, Mr Adebowale Kamoru, showed up in court, saying his client knew about Innoson’s move to get injunction against them.

Mr Kamoru, in an application brought before Justice Shagari on Friday, prayed the court to decline entertaining Innoson’s ex parte application on the claim that Innoson and his company had suppressed material facts.

Citing several judicial authorities, he prayed the court to grant leave for his client to be heard in the case.

In response, Innoson’s lawyer, Prof. MacCarty Mbaduagha, said he had been instructed by his client to withdraw the ex parte application and Mr Kamoru did not oppose him.

Consequently, Justice Shagari granted Prof Mbaduagha’s prayer.

“In view of the application of the applicants’ counsel, the application is hereby granted,” the judge held.

In the ex parte application, Mr Chukwuma had alleged that his recent arrest and detention by the EFCC was at the instance of GTBank.

The other defendants in the ex parte application were the Federal High Court, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Inspector-General of Police.